Tragic Incident: Eight Migrants Drown After Boat Collides with Greek Coastguard Vessel
A tragic incident near the island of Rhodes has led to the deaths of eight migrants, as their boat attempted to evade a Greek coastguard vessel. The coastguard reported that the boat’s driver “lost control” while trying to escape, and it collided at high speed with the side of the patrol ship.
As of now, 18 survivors have been rescued from the sea, many of whom are suffering from injuries. The incident occurred close to the Turkish coast, in an area frequently used by migrant smugglers.
Search efforts continue, with coastguard ships and a helicopter working to locate any additional survivors.
Greece’s shipping minister, Christos Stylianides, expressed his “deepest sorrow” over the loss of life, emphasizing the need to combat ruthless people smugglers who profit from human suffering. He stated that addressing the issue of illegal migration and protecting lives is a top priority.
This incident adds to the growing toll of migrant deaths in the Mediterranean. Each year, thousands of migrants attempting to reach Europe by boat lose their lives in the dangerous waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
In another tragic incident last month, eight people, including six children, were found after a migrant boat sank off the Greek island of Samos.
So far in 2024, over 50,000 migrants have arrived in Greece by boat, making it the second most-used route to Europe after Italy. Though the number of arrivals had been decreasing since August 2023, the figures have risen again during the summer months, according to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
This year, approximately 180,000 migrants have reached Europe by sea, with over 2,000 individuals either dead or missing. Among the arrivals, around 23% are children.
